NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Paige Cassady has been named the new pitching coach for the Lipscomb softball team as announced on Wednesday by head coach Kristin Ryman.

“Paige is the right fit from her pitching knowledge, her background in pitching, who she has learned from and how she has grown and developed,” Ryman said. “The big thing that kept coming up with the people I talked with about her was her passion for the game.

“I wanted someone here with character who is going to eventually sell the school as much as I can. I think Paige has quickly shown that she represents everything our school and program are about.”

Cassady spent the last two seasons as a graduate assistant at the University of Louisiana-Monroe where she worked with the pitching staff.

Cassady was highly recommended by Louisiana State coach Beth Torina, among others. After talking to Cassady on the phone Ryman decided to bring her to campus for a visit.

“I had never met her before, or ever talked to her for even a second, and we talked for about an hour,” Ryman said. “We just hit it off.

“Communication is such a big part of it. I think she is very well-spoken. She is young, but you wouldn’t realize it by talking to her. She has confidence. She can get her point across from a recruiting standpoint and dealing with our players and me.”

A native of Orlando, Fla., Cassady was named most valuable player of her Boone High softball team for three years in a row. In 2006 she was named the school’s Female Athlete of the Year.

Cassady started her collegiate career at Presbyterian College. As a freshman she was named second-team all-conference and won 16 games.

After the 2008 season at Presbyterian she transferred to Florida International. In two seasons she pitched in 18 games and also played in the outfield.

Cassady was attracted by the Christian atmosphere of the campus.

“I wanted to make sure I was working for somebody that I could respect and that would do the right things,” Cassady said. “I believe in discipline, but more so I believe in hard work. If you don’t enforce the validity of hard work then you lead players astray in feeling they are going to be successful for talent reasons or other reasons.

“It is not stressed enough to play by the rules and do what you are told. You are not entitled to things in life. That is where I am tough. If I ask someone to play here there are expectations that player needs to uphold and I don’t think that is unreasonable.”

Cassady’s primary job is to oversee the Lady Bisons pitching staff. She will also be heavily involved with recruiting as well as with hitting.

“I think she can help us with hitting and the infield,” Ryman said. “I wanted someone well-round enough to take the pitching and run with it, but who would also be able to help in other areas and bring new ideas to the table.

“A lot of people haven’t seen that intense side of her yet. I’m excited to see that come out. I think we need that. There has been intensity, but I think we can raise the bar one more step.”

Cassady replaces Lexi Myers who was named head softball coach at Lipscomb Academy.

Written by Mark McGee, Senior Publisher/Director of Media Relations for Athletics.